Gail Huff – A Distinguished Alumna

Gail Huff, reporter for Boston’s WCVB-TV Channel 5, attributes much of her professional success to the encouragement and support she received during her years in 4-H.

Both her mother and her 4-H leader convinced Gail at a very early age that she had a gift for public speaking.

In fact, she can still recite, verbatim, her very first 4-H presentation – a catchy poem about rocks (an early passion) - which she memorized and presented to her club when she was 10 years old. After that, Gail says, “I got really comfortable giving speeches.”

For Gail, 4-H has been a family affair. From the 1920s to 2007, there have been four generations of 4-Hers in Gail’s family, adding up to almost 90 years of 4-H experience. Her great aunt, Marie Shutz, was 4-H leader for Gail’s mother, Anne Moore. Gail’s mother, in turn, was once vice president of Wisconsin’s Madison County 4-H. Anne knew that Gail was probably not going to grow up and pursue a career in agriculture; nevertheless, she encouraged her to become involved in 4-H because she understood just how valuable the skills that Gail would develop in 4-H would be to her throughout her life. Gail’s daughter, Arianna Brown, was a member of the Wrentham Flying Hooves, a 4-H equestrian club, for five years.

“4-H is all about learning, but in the most positive and nurturing setting.”

Being judged as a child was scary, but Gail now views it as having been an extraordinary opportunity. 4-H was, and is, a safe environment in which you can make mistakes and receive constructive criticism. These invaluable lessons, Gail says, taught her how to communicate effectively.

Gail’s love of writing and journalism came later, following the realization that she had the ability to express herself in front of an audience. Broadcast journalism, with its blend of writing and public speaking, was a perfect career choice because it “marries the two things I love the most.”

Gail is passionate about 4-H. “There is no question that I benefited from 4-H. Children tend to make their own decisions about what they can and can’t do well, at an early age.” If children are encouraged to try new things, and if there is an adult who has faith in them, there’s no limit to what they can accomplish.

Another important benefit that Gail sees in 4-H is its emphasis on community service. That emphasis is one of the key reasons she encouraged Arianna to join 4-H. Gail feels community service is something that is missing in the lives of many of today’s children. She hoped that Arianna’s 4-H experience would reinforce the importance of helping others, and she believes that it has.